Depth of planning?

[Flyin2MCO]

Question(s) for the board:

How much planning do you do for your UO trip? How far in advance do you start and to what level of detail do you go?

I find the planning and anticipation stages to be almost as good as being there. Trying to see how neurotic and obsessive I am relative to the norm.

 

[damo]

The only planning we do is to book our flights and hotels and make sure we have tickets. That's all.

 

[lorax123]

I'm the same as Damo. Pretty much book the lowest air fare I can find and the hotel. That's it. We've booked our hotel as far as 9 months out for HHN trips. But a few times it's only been a month in advance. Then we just spend the next few weeks, or months, dreaming about being there.

Universal's nice. It really doesn't require the planning a Disney trip does. A trip to WDW requires planning out every detail far in advance it seems.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Same as the previous posters, pick a date, call and get a room. It's a short drive for us, so no airfare to worry about. Pretty much done!

It's what attracts us to USO more so than WDW. Even with our upcoming trip in September, we're allotting more and more and more time at USO, because I just haven't had time (nor the desire this far in advance) to break out all the spreadsheets, figure out all the EMH days (to avoid), spend a half-hour on the phone working out ADRs just to enjoy a couple days at WDW and eat at a TS restaurant.

Looks like Epcot it is, lol, sampling CS around the WS, and the rest of our time will be relaxing, winging it and going with the flow at USO

 

[robvia]

Agree with the OP, the anticipation is what makes the vacation better. If you were to book a trip on 2 days notice, show up, and visit, it wouldn't seem like a big deal. I think that's why kids don't appreciate all the work that goes into a vacation, because the kids don't plan it. They just pack a bag the night before and go along for the ride.

I plan trips 3 months out, which is why I'm always miffed at the marketing department of Universal. They'll have an event like Mardi Gras, or HHN, and I'll see commercials when the event has already started. They act like I'm going to see a commercial on TV, jump on the phone, and plan a visit. Doesn't work that way, they need to run promotions 3 months before the event starts.

Right now they should be having commercials for the summer show, but I bet we won't see them until the middle of July.

 

[WeirdEyes]

We pick our date, book everything, and then read as much as we can on all of it....even if we've been there many times. Just like this board....I'm on here all day long. I just wish more people would post.

 

[bubba's mom]

we book the room as soon as possible and change to AAA rate as soon as it opens up....have AP's, so, no brainer there. The only other planning I do is for eating..... the first half of our trip will be just us 3. So, i planned to eat at NASCAR one day, Enchanted Oak the day we are at IOA and Louie's the day we are at Studios. After those 3 days, DBIL & family will be joining us, so we "wing" it those days.....except Margaritaville is a family fav and will definately be one of the other nites....(and probably Pat O'Briens too.....another family fave.....)

So, book hotel & tickets asap....everything else can wait

 

[tlinus]

we plan our trip 3-6 months ahead of time

Look for the lowest rates, then about a month before the trip we start watching ride videos on you tube, looking at the Uni website and of course I am on this board all the time.

This past trip, we didn't do anything but Universal/IOA/HRH pool time, so we were able to take it at a leisurely pace and just take everything in (theming, nooks we never slowed down to visit) It was a VERY relaxing vacation

 

[Holly Goheavy]

I'm completely addicted to the planning. I do the virtual tours and ride videos on youtube so DS knows what to expect (this is his first time tall enough to ride almost everything). I like to plan where to eat, even though it never works out (DH is worse than a kid with picky eating). I even get crazy and plan my wardrobe day by day

I like to talk to DH about "let's do this at X time and then we'll do Y", but he just gives me a blank look-he's much more relaxed and just likes to go with the flow.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Glad to hear I'm not alone in what I'll call "OPS" (obsessive planning syndrome)...

I've found that it extends the excitement of the whole UO experience and helps get more out of the actual time at the parks and resorts. I don't go to level of planning the sequence of rides/attractions or the side dishes we'll get at dinner (ok, but I'll admit we do generally know what our first and last rides of the day will be), but everything else has at miminum a defined structure and agenda. I think part of this has to do with personality type...some of us prefer a very structured approach, while others love to "go with the flow"...I think both paths are good!!

 

[Detailor]

Other than pre-planning air transportation, a rental car, a resort to stay at and having US/IOA tickets in hand I check to see if there's anything new since our last visit - attractions and restaurants - to make sure we get to the things that we might want to do. Then we go and have a great time!

Dick Taylor

 

[patster734]

The only planning we do is to book our flights and hotels and make sure we have tickets. That's all.

That's pretty much how we are. In fact, last trip, we booked the town car service the week before leaving. The only exception is dinner at Emeril's in Citywalk or Emeril's Tchoup Chop at RPR, both usually require a reservation several months in advance.

 

[mamato4]

This is our first trip to US and it was planned at the last minute, well about 30 days in advance.. So for the last 30 days I have been researching and planning non stop all day.
Booking the airfare was done right away, but we just finally booked the hotels today after doing so much research and looking on here and trying to figure out what was the cheapest and best deal. I igured a way to stay on site too.. so Hard Rock.. here I come
Were still trying to figure out tickets though and we leave next Thursday
Dinners and etc have also been planned. I think I was so obsessed with planning this trip due to it being our first real vacation in 10 yrs of marriage..lol. So I just want everything to be perfect

 

[Beauties n the Beast]

I most certainly get carried away with the planning!! I didn't know there were ride videos out though....just added more neurotic planning I'll need to do - I also need to prep my 6year old in order for her to get on many of the rides!! I have not even boked my trip as yet but I have about all the details worked out...and am mentally planning my wardrobe, and my kids' wardrobes. LOL

 

[micksterlee]

We check in on the 24th of June and I have to admit I am still trying to work out a very important part of my plan. Which will it be first a margarita or some kind of rum drink?

 

[rie'smom]

One of things that I LOVE about a Universal onsite trip is that NO planning is necesary. As others have posted:
Choose your dates
Book your room
Get low airfare
Have a blast

 

[JMCDAD]

Do you guys usually go straight to dinner from the parks or go back to the hotel, freshen up and go back out to dinner.
I know it probably depends but just thought I would ask

 

[damo]

Do you guys usually go straight to dinner from the parks or go back to the hotel, freshen up and go back out to dinner.
I know it probably depends but just thought I would ask

We don't usually stay at the parks until dinner time. With FOTL we tend to be done by early to mid afternoon. Then we go back to the hotel for a swim and then out to eat and shop.

 

[bubba's mom]

well, considering we have eaten at some of the restaurants IN the parks, we are in the parks for the day and just go to eat at whichever park we're in. Sometimes we go back to freshen up if we've been wet or gotten pretty sweaty....other than that, we usually wing it and just go!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Do you guys usually go straight to dinner from the parks or go back to the hotel, freshen up and go back out to dinner.
I know it probably depends but just thought I would ask

We always return to the hotel (onsite or offsite) to clean up, recharge a bit and get ready for evening activities. I can't really think of any time where we haven't done this.